After grieving for an unknown length of time, Uchiha Itachi slowly rose to his feet. He carefully put away Shisui's Sharingan, the only relic Shisui had left behind.
He had not yet decided how to use it, but he did not intend to use the Kotoamatsukami within that eye to stop the coup. What had happened to Shisui had already sounded the alarm for him. Even if the Uchiha did not launch a rebellion, the conflict would still be irreconcilable.
From the very beginning, the point of conflict between the two sides had never been the Uchiha's so-called rebellion... There were deeper reasons, hidden dangers that had existed since the founding of Konoha itself.
He walked home woodenly, his expression cold, his presence having undergone an indescribable change from when he had arrived.
A person's growth... sometimes happened in the span of a single instant. When the support he had always relied upon fell, he would ultimately have to face everything himself.
It was time to make up his mind...
The morning sun rose as usual. The Uchiha Clan was somewhat unusual today; most of the clansmen seemed tense, as if something enormous had happened.
Yet none of this had much to do with the young Sasuke. He sat in the corridor outside his home, pestering his brother to teach him a new ninjutsu.
It was Sunday, so there were no classes at the Ninja Academy.
Itachi did not seem to be in high spirits. Though he wore his usual smile, it was extremely forced. Even young Sasuke could sense it.
"I have something to do today. Next time," Uchiha Itachi said with a gentle smile, lightly flicking Sasuke's forehead with two fingers.
"Uchiha Itachi, get out here!" At that moment, noisy shouts suddenly rang out from beyond the courtyard,